Display device

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate with a first alignment film, a second substrate with a second alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The first substrate has first and second electrodes. An initial alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is parallel to a first direction or a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second electrode includes comblike electrodes extending parallel to the first direction and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes. The connecting portion includes a projection which projects in a second direction more than an outermost comblike electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising:
 a first substrate including a gate line, a source line crossing the gate line, a switching element connected to the gate line and the source line, a first electrode, an insulating layer covering the first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode with the insulating layer interposed therebetween and connected to the switching element, and a first alignment film covering the second electrode; 
 a second substrate including a second alignment film opposed to the first alignment film; and 
 a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules sealed between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, wherein 
 an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the gate line, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of comblike electrodes extending parallel to the gate line and arranged along an extending direction of the source line, and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes and extends parallel to the source line, 
 the comblike electrodes each have sides extending linearly, and 
 the connecting portion includes a projection which projects in the extending direction of the source line more than an outermost comblike electrode of the comblike electrodes. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the comblike electrodes include a plurality of first comblike electrodes extending from a first side of the connecting portion parallel to the gate line and arranged along the extending direction of the source line, and a plurality of second comblike electrodes extending from a second side of the connecting portion parallel to the gate line and arranged along the extending direction of the source line, and
 the projection projects in the extending direction of the source line more than both an outermost first comblike electrode of the first comblike electrodes and an outermost second comblike electrode of the second comblike electrodes. 
 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate includes a light shielding layer opposed to the projection. 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein angles between an extending direction of the connecting portion and the sides of the outermost comblike electrode are obtuse angles. 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules possess positive dielectric anisotropy. 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is orthogonal to an extending direction of the connecting portion. 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the comblike electrodes are trapezoids. 
     
     
       8. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the comblike electrodes are rectangles. 
     
     
       9. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode has a flat plate-like shape. 
     
     
       10. A display device comprising:
 a first substrate including a gate line, a source line crossing the gate line, a switching element connected to the gate line and the source line, a first electrode, an insulating layer covering the first electrode, a second electrode opposed to the first electrode with the insulating layer interposed therebetween and connected to the switching element, and a first alignment film covering the second electrode; 
 a second substrate including a second alignment film opposed to the first alignment film and a light shielding layer; and 
 a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules sealed between the first alignment film and the second alignment film, wherein 
 an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the gate line, 
 the second electrode includes a plurality of comblike electrodes extending parallel to the gate line and arranged along an extending direction of the source line, and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes and extends parallel to the source line, 
 the comblike electrodes each have sides extending linearly, 
 the connecting portion includes a projection which projects in the extending direction of the source line more than an outermost comblike electrode of the comblike electrodes, 
 the light shielding layer has an opening and overlaps the gate line, the source line and the projection, and 
 the comblike electrodes are trapezoids and extend in the opening. 
 
     
     
       11. The display device of  claim 10 , wherein angles between an extending direction of the connecting portion and the sides of the outermost comblike electrode are obtuse angles. 
     
     
       12. The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the light shielding layer overlap tips of the comblike electrodes. 
     
     
       13. The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules possess positive dielectric anisotropy. 
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is orthogonal to an extending direction of the connecting portion. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the sides of the comblike electrodes are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the initial alignment direction. 
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 15 , wherein the acute angle is approximately 1.0 degree. 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the first electrode has a flat plate-like shape.